Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn From: merricb@mundil.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Merric BLACKMAN) Subject: [Silverbreeze] (in pub) Talks to Felix (Shouts to ALL) Message-ID: <9214815.11506@mulga.cs.mu.OZ.AU> Keywords: Felix, Silverbreeze, Shar, All Date: Wed, 27 May 1992 05:33:17 GMT )>[silverbreeze speaks of his companion Scarlet] )>"No luck at all. I thought to divine the location of a sword she carries. )>Either it is destroyed, or far more likely, is beyond the province of that )>spell. I can only hope that she is safe." )> )>Silverbreeze looks at Felix, and says, "Do you know of this world I describe? )>And, if you do not mind me asking, who are you and what is your tale?" ) )Felix replies "I know of many worlds, but I can not at present think of one )which has two moons, one red and one white. To find your companion would, )it seems, require more than to simply return to familiar hunting grounds." ) )"As for me: Folks here know me as Felix, although that is not my name. Nor )was I born with the form which you see before you - that was gifted to me )as a result of a slight miscalculation I made as to how far I could jump!" ) )Felix pauses to drink some more ale. He discovers that his tankard is empty, )so he signals to the barmaid for a refill. Then, with a wry smile, he resumes: ) )"That was when I was younger and more foolish. In those days I wandered often )in the company of friends with a similar love of places new and dangers fresh. )At times we quested after volumes of power like unto those of which you spoke - )in fact it was on one such quest that I gained my current appearance. One of my )companions of those days had ascertained that there were magical forces which )would be unleashed should we set foot on certain flagstones in a corridor. )I missed my footing while trying to leap across to the safe area beyond, and )I awoke to find myself caged, and with my mind trapped in an unfamiliar body. )I tried to call out, but all I could produced was the roar of a brute beast!" ) )"Fortunately for me the trap was an old one, and through the passage of time )wild magicks had altered it. Even more fortunately for me the alteration was )not immediately fatal. For instead of slaying me outright, the magical forces )had transformed me into the semblance of a cat-like creature, taking as their )model a creature held captive nearby. She it was who taught me the truth of )my situation, for I never saw the being that imprisoned us both. I spent many )days imprisoned, but eventually with her aid I was able to release us both )while my adventuring companions distracted our captor." ) )"She and I travelled together for many months, and during those times I spent )much time researching the nature of the form I had so recently acquired, )for it was not a natural one, but instead one crafted by magical means. )Soon the study of these (and other) magicks became the most important thing )in my life, and in my search for knowledge I often travelled alone. But I )sought magical knowledge as other men sought gold, so there were also times )when I joined with others in the search. Oft times, in fact, we ventured on )journeys that were like unto those of my youth. In the early days, however, )I was merely a seeker - it was only later that I came to know what I sought." ) )"How about you?" he asks Silverbreeze. "Have you learned what it is you are )looking for, or do you simply seek excitement and the pleasure of the hunt?" ) Silverbreeze settles back in his chair as he ponders Felix's question. His gaze wanders momentarily and settles on Shar. His eyes widen at what he sees, and he murmurs "strange". Then realizing that the entire inn is full of people who could be considered "strange" (especially his companion), he looks back to Felix. "Excitement and the pleasure of the hunt? Hardly, Felix. When I was younger," he says, smiling, for he is only about 25 years old now, "I found excitement aplently as I travelled with my friends of the Four Blades. My life changed when I was married, as I settled in my homeland and became an 'advisor' to the Count. "I still seek knowledge, but more I search for a way of ensuring the safety of my friends and family. One of the spoils of my adventuring days was a crystal ball. I now use it to keep track of my friends: Scarlet, Bardal and Brunak. "It was through this crystal ball that I discovered the trouble that Scarlet was in. My other friends could not help - Bardal is normally warded against my scrying, and Brunak was on a quest with some barbarian friends, so I went alone. The result of that action caused me to be here. "It seems that once more I must quest. Somehow I must reach Scarlet, and return her to Oerth, and there..." Silverbreeze pauses. "How will I be able to do it?" he exclaims. "I hardly survived an encounter with those whose names I shall not mention when they were fighting each other? If one turned his full might against me I should surely be destroyed." "Delleb, aid me!" Silverbreeze crys out, coming to the hearing of most in the inn. "How will I be able to do it?" He looks up, hoping for some sort of answer. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Merric Blackman The ELF merricb@mundil ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Still, it's always prudent to keep well away from a seven-ton carnivorous lizard with very big teeth. EXCALIBUR #51